There is an offer for more
information, free samples, writer's guidelines, but it is in the US, and
you are in Canada. Or you want to send a query letter for an article or
book to someone in the US. But obviously, you cannot put a Canadian stamp
on your SASE (Self Adressed Stamped Envelope) and expect it to mysteriously
arrive back in your mailbox. But what can you do?

You have two option when it
comes to sending a SASE to the US ~ an International Reply Coupon (IRC)
or use US stamps.

Unless you are a frequent visitor
to the US, an IRC is the easiest for you to use. You can purchase an IRC
from Canada Post at any Canadian postal outlet, at a cost of $3.95. This
$3.95 IRC is worth one international stamp to someone in the US. The person
who receives the IRC in the US will then take it to their United States
Postal Service Outlet where they can exchange this IRC for a stamp to
Canada.

The alternative is to purchase
US stamps and use them instead. But remember it will take two 34 cent
US stamps for it to get back to you in Canada. Use only one, and it will
get returned to the person you sent your SASE to for the additional postage.

How can you get US stamps?
You can stockpile when you visit the US, or get your friends to purchase
them for you. USPS now sells stamps on their website, and you can purchase
the stamps at face value plus shipping & handling. And some stores
specializing in stamps do keep a supply of ordinary US stamps on hand
just for that purpose.